Stories

Send us your inspirational stories and we will post the stories

From John Kribs:

When I spoke to you last (via email) I wasn’t sure of my plans for the 13th. Since then things have fallen together and unfortunately I will not be able to be a part of One Square Mile of Hope. I am disappointed. Breast cancer has menaced my family for as long as I can remember. Both my mother and grandmother died young as well as an aunt on my father’s side. My sister IS A SURVIVER!!! Thanks in part, I am sure, to fundraisers for cancer research. So, I do wish I could be a part of your fundraiser. It just isn’t possible this time. PLEASE keep me in mind for any other fundraising events you may plan and I sincerely hope you exceed anything you could hope for with One Square Mile of Hope.

Watching my mother suffer for the 3 or 4 years she fought cancer has left me with some of the saddest and most vivid memories of my life. I was only 17 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. It was more than 35 years ago and I still see her like that. She worked as a receptionist for a surgeon and had two radical mastectomies during the first year. Chemo and radiation were brand new AND experimental when she was sick.  She was so brave. She was so beautiful. She agreed to be a guinea pig. My father spent every cent he had and sold their house. When it was over he was broke. He did everything he could to save her. They lived on hope. I still remember her giving up, months before she passed away.. How many kids get to hear their mother say she just wants to die? My mother and father were a true love story and deserved a better hand in life. He was devastated when she died.

I guess I have never really gotten over it. It’s one of those painful things you have to just accept. You don’t “get over it.”

Janice’s story:

My mother discovered a small lump on her breast which upon examination, her doctor declared to be insignificant.  Completely trusting the judgment of her doctor, she went on about her business until two years later, when she received the devastating diagnosis of “breast cancer”.  She fought hard with the support of a loving family and survived several more years before finally succumbing to this disease.  My daughter, Manessa, who had been the light of my mother’s life, was deeply touched by the loss of her grandmother and has honored her memory with participation in both the 2002 and 2004 Avon Walks in Boston, raising thousands of dollars for breast cancer research.  Now, this disease has struck our family once again.  My sister, Janice, is currently battling breast cancer.  This is a glimpse of her story.

“A small lump was soon confirmed by an ultra sound, yet did not show up on my mammogram. This led me to my surgeon and the reality of breast cancer. A lumpectomy followed, with the probability of chemotherapy and radiation treatments to come. My lump was small enough that it was questionable whether or not I would need chemotherapy. Upon meeting with my oncologist for the first time, she informed me that her recommendation was to proceed with chemotherapy. I was disappointed, to say the least. My oncologist took the time to explain to me that although I may not need chemotherapy, her decision had to be based on the existing research. At this point in my treatment I was asked if I wished to participate in a clinical trial study. One purpose of this study is to better determine who needs chemotherapy among breast cancer patients. The clinical trial, that I will remain part of for many years to come, began with a relatively new test called Oncotype DX. It is performed only in California, where tissue from my tumor was tested to determine the genetic probability of the breast cancer recurring. Still quite expensive and not covered by many health insurances, what an important advantage that this latest research includes this test. It is my hope that the Oncotype DX test will become mandatory for breast cancer patients, and that similar tests for other cancers can be developed. My personal treatment and healing includes optimism, hope and faith.  I was fortunate to have found this cancer early, for which I am grateful every day.”

Our Mother's Journey

Our mother is a very brave soul.   She began her journey with breast cancer at a very young age of 42.   In  the spring of 1983  a lump was detected on her left side.   In the fall of that same year she lost her own mother to the same disease.    Mom's disease was not as progressed as her mother's and she had a complete mastectomy and removal of the lymph nodes. She patiently waited out the five-year-clear cycle and then had reconstructive surgery.   Our father was very supportive and together they never departed from their active, outdoors lifestyle including snowmobiling, camping and lots of travel (46 states including Alaska and Hawaii)!!!   We lost our father to prostate cancer in 2004, after a rather short battle of about one year from diagnosis.    Mom went on a respite for about two years but then went back into the world to discover new places and adventures.   She took at trip to Australia and New Zealand in 2005 and she even started kayaking!  (Dad didn't like the water.)  

Sometime in 2007 she began to have discomfort in her shoulder area.   After many rounds of physical therapy and lots of tests, a full body scan revealed lesions on her spine.   It was finally discovered that the same cell cancer had returned, to the same side, in the chest wall, after 25 years.  Today Mom is trying different medications but will probably start chemotherapy in a couple of weeks.  Mom is still brave, still strong and still beautiful at the age of 67.  She has a positive attitude as she fights the battle again.  We are confident that Mom has the strength to put this disease down one more time.    

Much Love and Strength, Jeff, Joy and Tracy

A Friends Request

I would like to share with you a bit of our Christmas letter last year.

“I had a little blip on the radar screen of life.  In August I had  a recurrence of breast cancer. I was fortunate to have a great radiologist  find a very small, non-invasive, stage 0 tumor, which was removed. Fortunately, in Cleveland at University Hospitals, I was told I didn’t need radiation.  What a relief!!!  During this time I was talking to a friend and asked her when she had her last mammogram. When  she said she had never had one I was blown over.  Dear friends, please have your mammograms.” A bit preachy, and not like our usual Christmas  letters, but I feel so strongly that Early Detection Saves Lives. This is  my story and I feel that I am now cancer free.

Carolyn O’Hara- survivor.

Jeanette's Story

Ok my breast cancer story.............twenty years ago one of my very dearest friends died from breast cancer and  my whole family was blown away with grief.........one year later I was diagnosed with breast cancer and my whole family was blown away with worry.  I am here nineteen years later and have lived to see two of my sons marry and gift me with six amazing grandchildren.........unfortunately I have learned that what I thought was the worst thing that could happen to me in my life was not the breast cancer but the death of my youngest son.  My experience with cancer and chemo prepared me to deal with that grief work.  My husband, my family and my friends have always been there for me.  The love and support from all of them has become part of my story.  I have met some amazing women who have dealt with breast cancer, my sister was diagnosed two years after me and we are both here and looking for joy in our lives every day.  Now this is a very cool story too.  When I recieved my confirmation I noticed one of the other e-mail addresses and realized it was from a fellow survivor who I had lost contact with.  I am now waiting to hear back from her and hope to hook  up with her on Sat.  Oh yeah I almost forgot...I waited ten years to have reconstructive surgery and to this day it is the best thing I ever did for me.  Thank you so much for giving me a chance to tell part of my story.

Betty Ann's Story

We're using this event to celebrate my 2 years' survival (almost exactly - - 9/12 is my diagnosis date).  Mine was a deep, sneaky, lobular tumor, that had NOT shown up on prior annual mammos and clinical breast exams, and only became recognizable as "different" on breast self-exam once it got pretty big (2 cm+); only showed up as multi-centric on MRI after diagnostic biopsy on The Biggie.  (Not surprisingly, I now push all my female friends on self-exam as well as mammo!)

Even though ours was a very new relationship when I was diagnosed, Warren stepped up and was with me for every surgery (sentinel node, mastectomy, and eventually DIEP reconstruction); as many doctor appointments as he could work around a generally inflexible work schedule; nursed me at home through course of all 8 chemos; and chose his spring '07 work schedule to be able to be my ride home after every radiation session.  Because of that support from him, and more from many church and work friends, I was able to work at least half-time through all but the immediate post-surgical (a/k/a still on painkillers) recovery periods - - which helped me feel productive, involved and far more optimistic than I would have simply sitting home.  We were even able to attend wedding of young friends' less than a month after my mastectomy - - AND I played their wedding marches on trumpet - - thanks to his emotional and physical support. 

We'll be carrying memory/honor/thanks ribbons which we created for this July's "Paddle for the Cure" at Alplaus, NY - - literally scores of names, of survivors, coaches and mentors, and some who've passed.  Look for the two life jackets which seem to have flamingo feathers fluttering from their backs!

THANKS for this opportunity!!

Betty Ann

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